We’re back from Washington, D.C., and energized by the incredible momentum from our annual 2025 D.C. Fly-In. This year, The Conservation Alliance brought together 22 participants, including representatives from 15 business members and five grantee partners. Across three packed days, our teams heard from elected officials and key staff and took deep dives on all of our policy asks. We held 55 meetings on Capitol Hill and with key federal agencies to advocate for the protection of public lands and waters- making the business case for conservation.
The importance of our Fly-In was twofold: to amplify the collective voice of the business community and our grantee partners in support of key land and water campaigns, and to build relationships that increase our influence in conservation policy making. Whether this was someone’s first time in D.C. or their tenth, we worked together to make sure elected officials heard directly from businesses and communities who rely on healthy, accessible, and protected public lands.
A Week of Momentum…and Urgency
This year’s Fly-In came at a critical time. Many of our conversations centered around the federal budget reconciliation process and a last-minute amendment proposing the sell-off of at least hundreds of thousands of acres of public lands, an issue that directly threatens the values of our member companies and the foundation of our public lands system.
TCA and our members voiced strong opposition to any legislative attempts to sell public lands to private interests. We called for transparency and collaboration in decisions about public land management and emphasized that local stakeholders, especially businesses and communities, deserve a seat at the table. After several days of advocating on the Hill, TCA and our members were pleased to see that the amendment was removed from the budget reconciliation package – for now. The removal of the sell off in the House was a clear demonstration of how TCA, our members, our grantees, and our broader community can join forces to fight against large-scale sell offs.
While we were on the ground in D.C., we celebrated a wave of exciting bill reintroductions in real time. This included the Wild Olympics Wilderness & Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, Dolores River National Conservation Area (NCA) and Special Management Area Act, and the Gunnison Outdoor Resources Protection Act, campaigns that TCA has long supported and where our members have consistently shown strong advocacy.
Our four lobbying teams, made up of business leaders, carried a consistent message to every meeting: land and water conservation isn’t just good for the planet, it’s good for business. These conversations helped expand our network of conservation-minded congressional allies, including 29 meetings with Republican offices and six key committee meetings.
Grantee and Member Collaboration
Throughout the week, we were proud to partner with five grantee organizations who brought essential place-based expertise to our briefings and conversations. Together, our member companies and grantees formed a powerful team of business advocates backed by on-the-ground knowledge and community connection.
We also hosted a full-day education session to kick off the week, building shared understanding around our campaigns, policy priorities, and effective ways to engage in advocacy.
What’s Next?
We’re energized by the progress made in D.C. and know this momentum must continue. Here’s how members can stay engaged:
- Join us again next year: If you’re a business member interested in future fly-ins, this is your sign to start planning. These trips are powerful platforms for advocacy, networking, and learning.
- Use your voice: If you attended the Fly-In, share what you learned with your team or community. Help others in your company understand the impact of business advocacy.
- Stay involved: Track our priority campaigns, visit the TCA Action Center, and watch for upcoming calls to action through email and social media.
- Support Brands for Public Lands: Our collective business voice in defense of public lands and waters continues to grow and your company can join today.
Final Thoughts
The D.C. Fly-In was a resounding success, and we’re incredibly grateful to our members and partners who took the time to show up and speak out. Thanks to their dedication, TCA continues to demonstrate that businesses have a powerful and necessary role to play in shaping the future of conservation policy.
Whether you’re an outdoor brand, a small business, or a grantee on the ground, your voice matters. Together, we’re building durable, bipartisan support for protecting the wild places we all love and the communities that depend on them.
